In Praise of the 7-11s

[NancyL]

I know we're not suppose to criticize the mods, but I was disappointed to see the thread on 7-11s shut down. Things have been kind of slow on the old Chiang Mai forum here lately and I was looking forward to light-hearted banter about this great Thai institution. After all, there's only so much that can be said about pizzas and hamburgers.

I, for one, was absolutely amazed at the 7-11s when I first came here. They are absolutely nothing like the nasty, dirty, poorly stocked 7-11 stores in the U.S., which usually seem to be in parts of town that give you the creeps. Here you can pay your utility bills and add minutes to your phone at the register -- and the clerks input the codes into the phone for you! The same clerks heat up your dinner in clean microwaves. There is a big selection of frozen meals -- things I've never seen before -- wow crab/seaweed sandwiches labeled as "breakfast food".

They're well lit and icy cold. It's a pleasure just to go into one on a hot day and they don't seem to mind if you hang around cooling off.

Plus, they're located in every little town in Thailand and every 50 meters in Chiang Mai.

[Thailand]

Yes a thread on 711's had the potential to be really exciting and memorable, but it was obviously a troll much like the Rimping one.

Sad days on TV Chiangmai forum.

[khwaibah]

Yes a thread on 711's had the potential to be really exciting and memorable, but it was obviously a troll much like the Rimping one.

Sad days on TV Chiangmai forum.

Come on give TV a break. Even they have to get into the crack downs..

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I'm a little sad that the smallest 7-11 in town had to move.

I really hope another opens soon; Chiang Mai could really use more 7-11's; you sometimes have to cross a street to get to one, which is an inconvenience.

[arunsakda]

My closest 7-11 does not have the ding/dong bell on the door. Big letdown.

[roger1999]

I feel sorry for anyone having to listen to that ding/dong constantly ringing, hour after hour. I bet the staff there hear it in their sleep. I know I would.

My local 7/11 recently expanded in size and now offers a range of products they didn't have room for previously. I like their triple-blade disposable razors (one can last me about 2 weeks) and the fact that the 7/11 branded water is 1 baht cheaper than the other brands helps me get more our of my budget : )

[babyjesus]

...in before the lock :-)

[roger1999]

By the way, is it really cheaper to have one of those phones without a contract where you buy minutes at 7/11 or other shops?

My situation: I rarely make or receive calls or messages, but I need to have a phone just in case. I have a contract with AIS (least possible talk minutes and least possible number of messages) and usually pay about 270 baht per month, automatically deducted from my bank account so I never have to do anything.

[BlackArtemis]

7-11 is great for letting you know winter has arrived in CM as well. It's the only time of the year the inside of a 7-11 is actually warmer than the outside.

But seriously, they offer so much convience. I returned to the US recently and agree with everything NancyL has to say about them. Luckily I live in the NE and have WaWa.

[northernjohn]

What surprises me is their prices are not that far out of line with the big stores.

Unlike in Canada and the States.

[willfreeman]

What surprises me is their prices are not that far out of line with the big stores.

Unlike in Canada and the States.

in australia you pay through the nose at convenience stores

[mamborobert]

And best of all now, when they have the 7/11 stamp collecting promotions you can now trade them for better university grades rather than the plastic stuff they display.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webmobile/national/University-probes-report-of-lecturer-exchanging-gr-30238550.html

[mesquite]

Methinks only NancyL could get away with starting this topic.

[WitawatWatawit]

Warm and fuzzy love-ins like this one always get spoiled by some niggardly curmudgeon who comes along and bitches about something. Can I have that honour today? Great, thank you.

I hate 7/11s - they have amazing penetration into general society like no other chain store, and they make a huge profit, but they do nothing to use their position to benefit society in any way. They exhibit no corporate responsibility. For example, think about the 2004 tsunami - did 7/11 chain use its amazing reach into communities to assist with the collection of donations and aid? Not that I could see.

Now back to cuddling. I eat their plastic toasties quite often, and they seem to be the only supplier of a certain brand of tinned coffee that I like.

Have a ding-dong day.

[onthedarkside]

Closed again